[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 62 (Tuesday, April 4, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E765]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


               THE HOME RUN READER SUMMER READING PROGRAM

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                           HON. JIM LIGHTFOOT

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 4, 1995
  Mr. LIGHTFOOT. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring the Members' 
attention to a reading program in my district which has done a great 
deal to motivate young people to read. It seems commonplace to hear 
about American students who do not meet the strenuous criteria we must 
require of them. Unfortunately, it is not unusual to hear about young 
Americans who graduate from high school without adequate reading 
skills.
  This program is sponsored by the Daily Tribune newspaper in Ames, IA, 
and the Iowa Cubs baseball team and is entitled, appropriately enough, 
``The Home Run Reader Summer Reading Program.'' This program was 
conceived with the sole purpose of helping children discover the 
pleasure of reading. The program has been successful.
  Last year marked the launch of the program and over 5,000 children 
and 26 libraries in 4 Iowa counties were involved. The students ranged 
in age from 2 to 16 years of age and read or had read to them an 
astounding 50,000 books, according to Mary Youngerman, a constituent in 
my district who served as the coordinator of the program. This summer, 
the program will span eight counties and its estimated that 12,000 
young people will participate.
  It is my hope that participating in this program will initiate a love 
of reading in children that will last them for the rest of their lives. 
According to Ms. Youngerman, this program was inspired by a similar 
program in Illinois.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope other Members will feel free to contact me if 
they are interested in developing similar programs in their districts. 
Hopefully, bringing attention to the Home Run Reader Summer Reading 
Program will motivate others to get involved at the local level to 
encourage young people to read and learn.




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